Thursday, January 26, 2006

Chinese Gold Coins

There are two Chinese gold coins of note issued by the Chinese Government.

The Unicorn gold coin, issued in 1986, is legal tender in the People’s Republic of China. Struck by the People's Bank of China, the obverse (head) depicts a Chinese unicorn - the title of PRC in Chinese and the issuing year, and on the reverse (tail) the Western unicorn.

They are 99% pure gold and weigh one twentieth of a troy ounce. They have a face value of 5 Yuan but will sell for around 40 to 50 dollars US depending on the condition. The condition should always be brilliant uncirculated as far as serious coin collectors are concerned.

The other Chinese gold coin available is the very popular Panda. Probably due to the adorable and cute pandas, always a favorite animal around the world, featured on the obverse (head) of the coins.

The Panda was first produced in 1982 and comes in one tenth, one quarter, one half and a full troy ounce in weight coin. Although the design is that of a Panda on the obverse, each year, with the exception of 1992, a different panda design was struck. All are brilliant uncirculated.

From 1986 to 1995 proof sets were issued and these now command a very respectable price due to their increasing rarity.

Another gold coin, although it could hardly be called a coin as it looks more like a wafer or bar, is the China Year of the Monkey 2004 half troy ounce coin. This features, of course, a monkey on the obverse and is not round like most coins but fan shaped. These usually come brilliant uncirculated and in a presentation box. Only 6600 were made so these are quite rare. They will sell for between 400 and 500 dollars US each.

The Chinese Mint sometimes issues other Gold Commemorative Coins.

Some examples are:

1979 International Children's Year gold commemorative coin (First year gold coin)Mintage: 13000Denomination: 450 YuanQuality: ProofDiameter: 27mmFineness: 90%Weight: 1/2ozReverse shows two children planting a tree.Can be purchased for about 325 to 350 dollars US.